Is Drysanding Antifoul So Bad?

[awol]

According to Hempel's Ocean Performer Product Data Sheet

Preparation: Always ensure all surfaces are clean, oil free and dry. Clean the surface and remove possible oil and grease with a suitable detergent and sand with dry abrasive paper. Carefully remove dust with fresh water.

Checking the ingredients, there's nothing much to get paranoid over.

 

[lpdsn]

According to Hempel's Ocean Performer Product Data Sheet
Checking the ingredients, there's nothing much to get paranoid over.

It's fine to do it in Scotland as the wind never drops below F8. As long as you're upwind of course.

In reality, modern anti-foul is only marginally more poisonous than baby bio, but it's very likely you will get some in your lungs if you dry sand, so best to avoid it.

 

[thinwater]

According to Hempel's Ocean Performer Product Data Sheet
Checking the ingredients, there's nothing much to get paranoid over.

I think you should review the standards for industrial exposure to copper dusts (2milligrams /M3 in air). The standards are VERY low.

Plus if you make a mess in the boat yard, particularly while someone else is painting, you will be stoned.

 

[VicS]

According to Hempel's Ocean Performer Product Data Sheet
Checking the ingredients, there's nothing much to get paranoid over.

Your quotation refers to the preparation of the substrate ... hence dry sanding is permitted

For preparing previously antifouled surfaces the data sheet reads;

". Existing old hard matrix antifouling or an unknown antifouling: High pressure fresh water clean, wet abrade, remove dust. Clean and dry the surface​

Wet abrade, you will notice.

The main hazardous component in the dry coating is copper(1) oxide although I would have to look up the other components to see what degree of hazard they pose

The solvents in the paint are also of course hazardous but used out in the open there is adequate ventilation so no problem

Used responsibly there should be no problems but dry sand your old antifouling with a power sander next to where someone else is working and you'll likely to get your power sander shoved somewhere you may not be expecting!

 

[Poignard]

One winter I laid my boat up in the shed at Hayling Yacht Company. One day a yard employee, clad from head to foot in protective clothing, arrived and began dry grinding the anti-fouling from the adjacent boat with an angle grinder, enveloping everything around in toxic dust. The moron could not understand my objecting to this and I had to go and get the yard owner to make him stop.

Any one who dry grinds antifoul is a fool.

 

[neil1967]

Dry sanding appears common here in the Netherlands; however, everyone (I have seen) has vacuum cleaners attached to the sanders or even scrapers to deal with the dust or shavings.

 

[[163233]]

According to Hempel's Ocean Performer Product Data Sheet
Checking the ingredients, there's nothing much to get paranoid over.

International have this:-

Safety GENERAL: Contains biocides. Antifoulings should only be wet sanded. Never dry sand or burn-off old antifoulings.

 

[GrahamM376]

Dry sanding appears common here in the Netherlands; however, everyone (I have seen) has vacuum cleaners attached to the sanders or even scrapers to deal with the dust or shavings.

Don't see a problem with that, a good shop vac with bags and a HEPA filter should stop any dust.

 

[chewi]

Try it if you like.
My dad died from asbestosis 30 yrs after he had 6 months exposure.

I'm not saying the risks are the same, but the warnings are there.
Ignore them if you want to, but don't blame anyone else later